Laterally movable link type load supporting member



March 8, 1966 K. M. SANO 3,239,088

LATERALLY MOVABLE LINK TYPE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBER Filed Feb. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

K. M. SANO March 8, 1966 LATERALLY MOVABLE LINK TYPE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12. 1962 K. M. SANO March 8, 1966 LATERALLY MOVABLE LINK TYPE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 K. M. SANO March 8, 1966 LATERALLY MOVABLE LINK TYPE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBER Filed Feb. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,239,088 LATERALLY MUVABLE LINK TYPE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBER Karel Marcel Sano, Borsbeek, Belgium, assignor to Gevaert Photo-Producten N.V., Mortsel, Belgium, a company of Belgium Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 173,857 Claims priority, application Belgium, Feb. 13, 1961, 40,443, Patent 600,124 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-730) The invention relates to a load handling device. More particularly, it relates to a. loading device. for transporting and stacking or storing large size rolls such as paper rolls, calender rolls, and the like.

It is known to use for the handling of such paper rolls, calender rolls, and the like, stacking trucks comprising a load lifting system which contains two lift forks mounted on a frame moving between vertical guide channels. Such stacking trucks show the disadvantage that, in case of stacking or storing rolls which are diflicult to reach from the aisles between the stacks or racks, the lift forks must have a rather lappreciable'length or otherwise the vertical frame has to be mounted on a horizontal sled, and rotatable or not rotatable, intended for carrying out a given movement.

A loading device has now been found, comprising at least two sprocket wheels each closely surrounded by a casing which at one point of the periphery runs into substantially the middle of a horizontally extending straight guide channel lying in the same plane as the sprocket wheel, driving means for imparting a turning movement to the sprocket wheels, at least two load supporting chains at each end provided with a load hook and consisting of links with a total length equal to the pitch circle of said sprocket wheels, said links being only bendable from a straight direction into the rolling up direction of the sprocket wheels, said load chains being in mesh with said sprocket wheels and travelling from one half of said straight guide channels over the circumference of the sprocket Wheels to the other half of said straight guide channels.

This loading device has the advantage that the movable frame and the lift forks are omitted.

Furthermore the space required for passing and maneuvering a stacking truck, which is provided with such a loading device, is very small. The frame wheels of the stacking truck are positioned at a relatively great distance from each other in order to secure a suflicient stability when the chains and the load are in the most extended position and they are adapted to move under the lower rolls of the stack or racks situated at the left hand and right hand side of the stacking truck. Thus, the width of the required passage between the stacks or racks is now only defined by the mutual distance of both the extremities of the guide channels intended for the outward guiding of the chains.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view,

FIG. 2 is a plan view and FIG. 3 is a front view of the loading device according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the loading device,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the loading device in the rest position,

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the loading device,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of the loading device while operating,

FIG. 8 is a detail of load and the load hook.

The loading device principally consists of two parallel chain casings *1 and 2, and two chains 4 provided with hooks 3. The chain casings 1 and 2 are vertically movice able by means of the guide columns 5, the chains 6 and the driving mechanism 7 (FIGS. 1-2-8).

Each of the chains 4 runs over a sprocket wheel 8 the teeth 9 of which mesh with the links 10. Both the sprocket wheels 8 are mounted on a shaft '11 which is driven by the toothed wheels 1243, shaft 30, the Worm wheel 14 and the worm 15 by means of a motor 24 (FIGS. 4-5-6). The length of the chains 4 is equal to the pitch circle of the sprocket wheels.

The chain casings 1 and 2 whose respective inner walls 1a and 2a closely surround the chains 4 which are running over the sprocket wheels 8; at the lower end of these chain casings, two horizontal guide channels 26 are provided for guiding the chain outwardly. The sides of these guide channels 26, facing each other, have a slot 16 for the guidance of the rolls to be handled.

In the operative position the chains are stretched in a fr-ontward or backward horizontal direction according to a turning to the left or to the right effected by the sprocket wheels. Each chain is thus selectively extendable toward either side of the truck.

In the rest position the chains are completely rolled on the sprocket Wheels as shown in FIG. 5. In that position both the hook shaped portions 3 of each chain 4 are locatedin the hollowed out part or depression 17 of the guide channel 26. The pins 22 of the roll being handled do not follow the hooks 3 into the depression 17, but they are retained by the lower edge 23 of the slot 16. The central part of this edge is provided with an elevation 29, partially horizontal, having a small recess or groove 25 in its middle. In this way the load is supported during its transfer from one hook to the other one (FIGURES 4 and 5) on the pins 22 which are lodged in the grooves 25 on each side.

When the device picks up a load and the sprocket.

wheels turn from the operative position to a rest position, they can effect two movements for delivering the load, viz. either a turning movement to deposit the load at the side on which it has been picked up or a turning movement to deposit the load at the other side. In the first case, upon leaving the rest position in the depression 17, the left hook 3 (FIG. 5) takes up the load again with its pins 22 resting in the grooves 25 of the elevations 29. In the second case the right hand book takes over tthe load from the left hand hook after the latter has deposited the load with its pins 22 in the groove 25 when the right hand hook leaves the depression 17.

FIG. 7 shows a partial frontward position of the chain. The horizontal movement of the chain to the outside of the guide channel 26 is realized owing to the fact that the links can only be turned into one direction i.e. the rolling up direction of the sprocket wheel. A turning movement to the other direction is impossible since each link is provided with two abutment members 18 and 20. The abutment member 18 of each link rests on the abutment member 20 of the preceding link, when the chain links are aligned. Inside the guide channels the chain is guided by means of small chain rollers 31.

For picking up a load, the operation is done as follows: the stacking truck comprising the loading device is directed between the stacks or racks in front of the roll to be loaded. The loading device is raised until it reaches the level of the roll.

The sprocket wheels are turned to the left or to the right according to the left hand or right hand position of the roll in respect to the stacking truck. Then the loading device is raised slightly. The hooks 3 grip the pins of the roll to be loaded and then this roll is lifted from the hooks of the rack. Next, the sprocket wheels return to their starting position whereby the picked up roll is positioned between the columns 5 of the stacking truck. The stacking truck leaves the passage-way be- 3 tween the stacks or racks and is directed towards the place of destination for delivering the loaded roll at either sides-to the left or to the rightof the truck.

Besides for the loading of rolls, the loading device according to the present invention is also suited for picking up other loads on the condition that the load is provided, at two opposite side walls, with pins fixed above the centre of gravity and which fit into the hooks 3.

If necessary, the guide columns 5 can be movably mounted and controlled by an adapted driving mechanism 7. In this way loads of different width can be handled.

I claim:

1. In a load handling device including a movable base and at least two spaced upright support members fixed to said base, the combination of elevating means mounted on each upright support member for movement vertically thereon,

a casing fixed to each elevating means,

rotatary means mounted in said casings,

driving means for reversibly actuating said rotary means,

a link chain wound on each rotary means, said link chains bending only in one direction and being wound on said rotary means in said one direction,

a guide frame on each casing and extending in opposite directions substantially in the plane of said rotary means,

said casings having an opening in their lower portion communicating with said guide frames,

said guide frames having a guide channel for said link chains,

said link chains having a length sufiicient to extend from said rotary means outwardly of said guide channels for engaging a load,

said rotary means actuating said link chains to travel in said guide channels in said opposite directions to engage and transport a load.

2. In a load handling device including a movable base and a pair of spaced upright posts fixed to said base, the combination of elevating means mounted on each spaced upright post for movement vertically thereon,

a casing fixed to each elevating means,

a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted in each casing,

said casings having inner walls extending in closely 4 spaced relationship to said said sprocket wheels, driving means for reversibly rotating said sprocket wheels, link chains adapted to bend only in one direction and a straight guide frame fixed to each casing below the spocket wheel and extending in opposite directions substantially in the plane of the sprocket wheel,

said casings having an opening in their lower portion communicating substantially centrally with said guide frames,

said guide frames having a guide channel for said link chains,

load engaging means at the ends of said link chains,

said link chains having a length sufficient to extend from said sprocket wheels outwardly of said guide channels for engaging a load,

said sprocket wheels actuating said link chains to travel in said guide channel in said opposite directions to engage and transport a load.

3. A load handling device according to claim 2 wherein the ends of said link chains are disposed in opposite relation at the bottom of said sprocket wheels on each side of its axis for traveling in opposite directions through said guide channel.

4. A load handling device according to claim 3, wherein the load to be handled has support means extending therefrom at each side, and an inner wall on said guide frame having a continuous passage at the level of said guide channel for receiving said support means during transport by said link chains along said guide frame.

5. A load handling device according to claim 4 wherein the lower edge of said uninterrupted passage in said guide frame has a raised portion disposed substantially below the center of said sprocket wheel and provided with a groove for receiving and holding said load support means.

6. A load handling device according to claim 4 wherein a depression is formed in the floor of said guide frames substantially below the center of said sprocket wheel and adapted to allow the ends of said link chains to move under said load support means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,056 4/1955 Talley et a1 214390 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,072,557 12/ 1959 Germany.

210,120 6/ 1940 Switzerland. 211,400 11/ 1940 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

wou i a single turn on said sprocket els in HUGO o. SCHULZ, MORRIS TEMIN, Examiners.

said one direction, 

1. IN A LOAD HANDLING DEVICE INCLUDING A MOVABLE BASE AND AT LEAST TWO SPACED UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBERS FIXED TO SAID BASE, THE COMBINATION OF ELEVATING MEANS MOUNTED ON EACH UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY THEREON, A CASING FIXED TO EACH ELEVATING MEANS, ROTATARY MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID CASINGS, DRIVING MEANS FOR REVERSIBLY ACTUATING SAID ROTARY MEANS, A LINK CHAIN WOUND ON EACH ROTARY MEANS, SAID LINK CHAINS BENDING ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION AND BEING WOUND ON SAID ROTARY MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, A GUIDE FRAME ON EACH CASING AND EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF SAID ROTARY MEANS, 